TENSILE STRENGTH AND STRAIN OF VACUUM INFUSION BANANA FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITE USING EPOXY RESIN

Banana fiber is regarded as one of the natural fibers suitable for spinning and weaving, owing to its adequate length, durability, environmental impact, abundance and fine texture. Its significance has been increasing, especially in line with the global environmental issues, where green composites are capturing the attention of researchers worldwide. Banana fibers are applicable in various areas of life, including clothing, home decor, and paneling. The use of panels is particularly favored in sectors like automotive, aerospace, construction, and other industrial applications. Additionally, banana fiber composites have drawn interest for their thermal and acoustic insulation properties, attributed to their unique hollow fiber structure containing cavities and a high porosity ratio. In this study production of panels using banana fiber as a reinforcement employing epoxy resin as a matrix is performed using vacuum infusion process (VIP). The produced panels have been tested for tensile strength and strain according to ISO 527-4. The study showed a promising result compared to similar natural fibers. The results fall within a common range observed for natural fiber composites, but it's generally on the lower to mid-range compared to some of the higher-performing banana fiber epoxy composites reported. By addressing these factors, the mechanical performance of banana fiber epoxy composites can be significantly enhanced, making them more competitive for various applications.